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enRanieri: Vannes scalp to kick-start Monaco seasonMonaco coach Claudio Ranieri said he hopes his teams Coupe de France victory over lowly Vannes can kick-start their season.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/ranieri-vannes-scalp-boost-monaco
The club from the principality ended 2013 in poor fashion, losing 2-1 in front of their home fans to Valenciennes, which saw Paris Saint-Germain gain a three-point lead in Ligue 1.
But after seeing Monaco return from their two-week winter break with a 3-2 triumph over Vannes, who sit bottom of France's third tier of football, Ranieri said his players are ready for Friday's trip to Montpellier.
"I think the cup game against Vannes was good for us because it allowed the team to wake up everything," the 62-year-old Italian said.
"I thought it would be a tough game, because it's normal when you go away to play against a smaller team, they will play better.
"They will go in with the intention of causing a shock and will play with heart.
"For us it was important to qualify and also to wake up everyone, because it's not easy after the holidays to start the season once more immediately."
Ranieri said the clash with Montpellier, who sit just outside the relegation zone in Ligue 1, will be critical to Monaco's chances of winning the league title.
With PSG set to travel to bottom-placed Ajaccio on Saturday, Ranieri knows Monaco cannot afford to give the reigning champions a bigger lead.
"The game against Montpellier this Friday will be a very important one for the club," the veteran coach said.
"We finished 2013 with no form at all and it was a bad way to end a great year for us. So it is important we find form early on in the New Year."
news_articleThu, 09 Jan 2014 00:11:59 +0000102289 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comCoupe de France Wrap: Big sides scrape throughMonaco, Lille and Bordeaux all survived scares on the road to progress against lower-league opposition in the Coupe de France on Sunday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/coupe-de-france-big-ligue-1-sides-stutter-last-32
Monaco, second in Ligue 1, were behind after a minute against third-tier Vannes before Radamel Falcao equalised two minutes later.
Yannick Aguemon restored the hosts' lead, only for James Rodriguez to again level the scores before the break, with YannickFerreira Carrasco ending any chances of an upset four minutes from time to book Claudio Ranieri's side a place in the last 32.
Lille also found themselves behind early on when they travelled to fifth division Amiens AC, but fought back as a Salomon Kalou brace helped them to a 3-1 win at the Stade Jean Bouin.
David Bellion was the hero for Francis Gillot's Bordeaux at fourth-tier Raon-l'Etape, as he struck four minutes from time to help the holders to a 2-1 win.
Nice came out on top against top-flight rivals Nantes thanks to goals from Didier Digard and Christian Bruls, while Bastia sent last year's finalists Evian out courtesy of Florian Raspentino's 20th-minute effort.
Ten-time winners Marseille needed extra time to see off Reims, with Andre-Pierre Gignac finding the net for a fourth successive gameto score twice and settle the tie, while Lyon thrashed La Suze 6-1 thanks to braces from Bafetimbi Gomis and Alexandre Lacazette.
Auxerre also struck six, seeing off Marcq-en-Baroeul 6-2 having been three goals ahead after nine minutes, while Iris Club de Croix needed penalties to see off Saint-Amand after the scores were level at 1-1 after 120 minutes.
FA Ile Rousse Monticello and 2009 champions Guingamp progressed with 2-0 wins over Cayolle and Bourg-Peronnas respectively, with Ligue 1's bottom side Ajaccio making the most of their break from league football.
Ajaccio came from behind to edge Quimperle 2-1 and M'Baye Niang scored from the spot on his debut to help Montpellier see off Rodez 2-0.
Sete enjoyed a 2-0 win over Carquefou, while Paris Saint-Germain against Brest and Saint-Etienne's visit to Cannes were both postponed due to bad weather.
news_articleSun, 05 Jan 2014 22:43:25 +0000101204 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comFalcao to start at Vannes, Ranieri confirmsRadamel Falcao will start Monacos Coupe de France tie at Vannes on Sunday, head coach Claudio Ranieri has confirmed.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/falcao-start-vannes-ranieri-confirms
Colombia international Falcao made his comeback from a thigh injury as a substitute in the principality club's final Ligue 1 game before the mid-season break, a 2-1 home defeat to Valenciennes on December 20.
And Ranieri revealed on Saturday that the 27-year-old striker, who moved to Monaco from Atletico Madrid for a fee of around €60 million in July but has been linked with another transfer this month, is ready to face their third-tier opponents.
"Falcao is going to be in the line-up," said the Italian.
"He's 100 per cent ready, but I am not sure that he will play the entire game. But for sure, he will start it.
"It's very good news because he's a key player for us."
Ranieri went on to insist he will not make wholesale changes at the Stade de la Rabine, and the former Chelsea boss expects Vannes to provide his side with a tough test.
"For us it would be important to go through," he added.
"It will be good for us before the restart of Ligue 1. We have to have a good game, with intensity. We have to play a great game.
"I am not going to field a new line-up. It's important that the players get the rhythm of the competition again."
news_articleSat, 04 Jan 2014 18:57:49 +0000100828 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMarseille to face Reims in Coupe de FranceMarseille will face Reims in the last 64 of the Coupe de France after four all-Ligue 1 ties were drawn on Monday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/marseille-face-reims-coupe-de-france
Elie Baup was sacked as Marseille coach after their loss to Nantes on Friday and sporting director Jose Anigo has been named caretaker boss.
Fifth in Ligue 1, Marseille face a side sitting just two places below them on the table in the Coupe de France.
Fourth-placed Nantes meet top-flight battlers Nice and Bastia will face Evian TG in other ties.
The only other all-Ligue 1 battle is between Rennes and relegation-battling Valenciennes, who are five points from safety.
Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain travel to second-tier Brest, Monaco visit Vannes and Lille face a trip to Amiens.
news_articleTue, 10 Dec 2013 01:31:32 +000092504 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com